Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has criticised reports linking captain Ryan Jack with a move to Rangers as an attempt to destabilise the Dons.
The midfielder, who is out of contract at the end of the season, was yesterday linked with a move to Ibrox.
But McInnes, whose Reds face St Johnstone this afternoon, insists there has been no contact between Rangers and Jack – and said the midfielder is likely to move to England if he decides to leave at the end of the season.
The Aberdeen manager said: “Ryan is happy here and he hasn’t ruled out staying here. We hope he will stay but if he decides to move on his likely destination will be England.
“He sees that as maybe his next opportunity if he decides to leave Aberdeen.
“There is absolutely nothing in (the report). You have to question the reasons for it, whether it is to destabilise us or whatever.
“I have been assured from Ryan and I trust Ryan that he or his agent have had no contact with Rangers.
“He plays an integral part for us and hopefully that will go beyond the end of the season.”
The three meetings between Aberdeen and St Johnstone have produced only one goal this season and McInnes is expecting another tight contest at McDiarmid Park today.
The Dons drew 0-0 with the Perth Saints on league duty in August and December, while a 90th-minute goal from Adam Rooney gave the Reds a 1-0 victory in the quarter-finals of the League Cup in September.
It is a total contrast from last season when the four matches between the clubs produced a whopping 18 goals, including a 5-1 success for the Saints and a 4-3 win for the Dons.
Tommy Wright’s men look on course to pip Ian Cathro’s inconsistent Hearts for fourth place in the Scottish Premiership after opening up a five-point advantage on the Jambos after last week’s 3-0 win at Caley Thistle.
Despite operating one of the smaller playing budgets in the division, St Johnstone have achieved a sixth successive top-six finish and could qualify for Europe in fourth position – providing Hibernian are unsuccessful in their quest to win the Scottish Cup and Celtic, Aberdeen and Rangers finish in the top three.
McInnes, who managed St Johnstone from 2007 to 2011, said: “I think there’s a lot made about their organisation and their strength and their familiarity which definitely helps.
“But what sometimes gets forgotten is that they’ve got good players.
“I’m sure they’ll still be pushing to try to finish third in the league which says everything about the task we’ve got ahead of us.”
